Melissa Devich Cochran, Appellate Attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Over 23 years of legal practice · focused on Appellate and Product Liability · 3.0/5 rating from 1 verified client review
ShareholderatMarshall Dennehey
Pittsburgh, PA
Practicing appellate in Pittsburgh since 2003.
- 23+
- Years practicing
- 3.0 ★
- 1 client review
- 2
- Bar admissions
Practices in
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Quick answer
Melissa Devich Cochran is a shareholder based in Pittsburgh, PA. The practice focuses on Appellate and Product Liability. Melissa has over 23 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Marshall Dennehey. Rated 3.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.
- Based in
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Experience
- over 23 years
- Known for
- Appellate · Product Liability
- Handles Appellate and Product Liability matters from Pittsburgh, PA.
- Over 23 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with Peer Reviewed.
About Melissa Devich Cochran: Melissa Devich Cochran is a shareholder based in Pittsburgh, PA. The practice focuses on Appellate and Product Liability. Melissa has over 23 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Marshall Dennehey. Rated 3.0 out of 5 from 1 client review.
Areas of practice
Melissa's practice areas in Pittsburgh
Melissa concentrates on appellate and product liability. Each area below outlines the kind of case Melissa handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Appellate cases in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Melissa takes appellate matters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Melissa agrees to represent you.
Product Liability cases in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Melissa takes product liability matters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Melissa agrees to represent you.
Biography
Melissa Devich Cochran, appellate attorney serving Pittsburgh
Melissa Devich Cochran is a shareholder based in Pittsburgh, PA. The practice focuses on Appellate and Product Liability. Melissa has over 23 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Marshall Dennehey. Rated 3.0 out of 5 from 1 client review. Melissa works from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and takes on appellate matters across the region.
Melissa Cochran focuses her practice on product liability, particularly asbestos litigation, where she represents and defends numerous and varied equipment manufacturers, outside contractors and supplier companies. Melissa's day-to-day asbestos practice includes overseeing and directly participating in all phases of litigation, from investigation to trial, throughout Western Pennsylvania. She also frequently participates in discovery in Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and Madison County, Illinois. In addition, Melissa serves as assistant national counsel for two manufacturing defendants, where her duties include coordination of discovery responses and communication with local trial counsel. Melissa's concentration on her asbestos practice enables her to provide clients with attentive, insightful and cost-effective strategies to combat the ever-evolving challenges of this fast-paced litigation.
As an experienced property and casualty attorney, Melissa represents clients in magistrate and arbitration level trials involving automobile accidents, premises liability claims and product liability suits. She is also actively involved in the investigation, discovery and pre-trial phases of complex multi-vehicle accidents, dram-shop and bad faith cases.
In 2000 Melissa graduated from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania where she earned her B.A. in English and political science. While attending Saint Vincent, she founded the Saint Vincent College Mock Trial Team and served as its captain. In 2003, Melissa earned her juris doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, where she was a member of the Trial Moot Court Honor Society. Melissa competed on the law school's Trial Moot Court team in 2002, when her team placed in the finals at the regional tournament, and in 2003, when her team placed in the semi-finals at the regional tournament.
Honors & Awards
•Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2020-2026)
•Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star (2012-2013)
Classes/Seminars Taught
•Causation Decisions Around the Country, Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Asbestos Medicine Conference - November 2017
•Defending Damages, Panel Moderator, Defense Research Institute (DRI) Asbestos Medicine conference, November 5, 2015
•The Fair Share Act, Transparency, and the Effect of Bankruptcy Claims on Pending Civil Litigation, National Business Institute CLE Seminar on Asbestos Litigation, August 12, 2014
Published Works
•'PA Superior Court Permits Incomplete Deposition Testimony and Affidavit of 'Unavailable Witness' to Oppose Summary Judgment in Asbestos Claim,' - Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC - Client Alert October 31, 2019 - cross published on LinkedIn
•'Pennsylvania Superior Court Questions Voir dire Procedure in Recent Opinion' - Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC - Client Alert May 22, 2018 - cross published on LinkedIn
•'PA Superior Court Answers Question of Whether Fair Share Act Applies to Strict Liability Asbestos Claims' - Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC - Client Alert - January 9, 2018 - crossed published on LinkedIn
•“Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania Predicts Applicability of the “Bare Metal” Defense in Pennsylvania Asbestos Litigation,” Defense Digest, Vol. 22, No. 3, September 2016
•'Ford Motor Company Obtains Defense Verdict in Allegheny County Mesothelioma Case,' Legal Updates for Toxic Torts Litigation, December 2, 2016
News
98 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
August 20, 2025
How Melissa handles appellate matters
Melissa Cochran focuses her practice on product liability, particularly asbestos litigation, where she represents and defends numerous and varied equipment manufacturers, outside contractors and supplier companies. Melissa's day-to-day asbestos practice includes overseeing and directly participating in all phases of litigation, from investigation to trial, throughout Western Pennsylvania. She…
Who Melissa represents
Melissa reviews new inquiries case-by-case for appellate and product liability matters in Pittsburgh and the surrounding Pennsylvania area.
Credentials
Credentials — where Melissa studied and practices
Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
J.D. · 2003
Saint Vincent College
B.A. · 2000
Jurisdictions
Melissa's state bar admissions
U.S. District Court
2004 · ACTIVE
Pennsylvania
2003 · ACTIVE
Melissa studied at J.D. in Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and B.A. in Saint Vincent College.
Law school and academic background
Melissa completed J.D. in Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and B.A. in Saint Vincent College. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Melissa runs in Pennsylvania is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Melissa's legal honors and published work
Melissa has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Peer Reviewed
Legal awards and honors
Peer Reviewed.
Affiliations
Melissa's professional memberships and bar associations
Pennsylvania Bar Association
membership
Locations
Melissa Devich Cochran's office in Pittsburgh
Melissa's primary office is at Union Trust Building, 501 Grant Street, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Marshall Dennehey
Union Trust Building, 501 Grant Street, Suite 700
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Open in Google MapsClient feedback
Client reviews of Melissa Devich Cochran — 3.0/5 rating from 1 verified client review
Every review below is from a verified client of Melissa. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing appellate attorneys in Pittsburgh.
3.0
1 client review
Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once Melissa Devich Cochran claims this profile.
Read all reviewsHiring guide
How to hire Melissa Devich Cochran — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new appellate attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Melissa usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Melissa charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Melissa's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Melissa will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a appellate attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A short list to run through before you commit: How many appellate matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Melissa
Melissa discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in appellate practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every appellate matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Melissa confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Melissa's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many appellate practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Melissa Devich Cochran
How much does it cost to hire Melissa for a appellate case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Melissa walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Melissa offer a free consultation?
Melissa charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Melissa's office. Some appellate attorneys offer free consults — check Melissa's current terms during booking.
How long do appellate cases in Pennsylvania typically take?
Simple appellate matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Melissa gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Melissa take my case if I'm outside Pittsburgh?
Melissa is licensed in Pennsylvania. Matters governed by Pennsylvania law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Melissa will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Melissa?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Melissa will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Melissa accepting new appellate clients right now?
Melissa's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Appellate attorneys serving Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania
Melissa handles appellate matters throughout Pennsylvania. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified appellate attorneys in that community.
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